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Judy Garland  «   » 
 Roles turned down by Judy Garland:

Alice Adams (1956)
In 1956 Judy was announced to star in a remake of the Katharine Hepburn 1935 film about a small town girl with social ambitions, opposite Eddie Albert.
Actor who got the part: Film Not Made

All About Eve
In 1955, Judy was approached about appearing in a musical remake of All About Eve.
Actor who got the part: Film Not Made

Annie Get Your Gun
Fired from the big film version of Irving Berlin's Broadway hit after she had recorded the songs and began filming.
Actor who got the part: Betty Hutton

The Barkleys of Broadway
First attempt to re-team Garland with Easter Parade co-star Fred Astaire. Garland was fired because of absences due to illness.
Actor who got the part: Ginger Rogers

Belle of New York
Originally Judy was planned to co-star with Fred Astaire in the mid 1940's.
Actor who got the part: Vera-Ellen

Bloodhounds of Broadway (1952)
20th Century Fox wanted Judy, back in favour after her stage triumph at the Palace Theatre, for the part of hillbilly Emly Ann Stackerlee.
Actor who got the part: Mitzi Gaynor

Born to Dance
A very young Judy was considered for a part in this 1936 MGM musical.
Actor who got the part: Frances Langford

Brigadoon
In 1952, Judy was considered by MGM to play Scottish townswoman Fiona Campbell.
Actor who got the part: Cyd Charisse

Carousel
The great Garland was considered for the role of "Julie Jordan," but plans never came to fruition.
Actor who got the part: Shirley Jones

Cimarron
In 1946, MGM considered remaking Cimarron as a vehicle for Judy and Gene Kelly. It was eventually made in 1960 but without Judy and Gene.
Actor who got the part: Film Not Made

Dragon Seed
Judy Garland was the first choice for the part of Jade, the heroic Chinese girl who leads her villagers in an uprising against Japanese invaders.
Actor who got the part: Katharine Hepburn

Forever
During their affair in the 1940's Tyrone Power had introduced the book by Mildred Cram to Judy Garland, wanting them to make a film of it. Metro announced the film in 1946 but it was not made.
Actor who got the part: Film Not Made

Give a Girl a Break
Garland was sought as one of four major stars for Stanley Donen's MGM musical that followed "Singin' In the Rain."
Actor who got the part: Marge Champion

Gone with The Wind
Judy Garland was briefly considered for the role of Scarlet O'Hara's youngest sister Careen. the role would eventually be played by Garland's co-star from the Andy Hardy films, Ann Rutherford.
Actor who got the part: Ann Rutherford

Good News (1947)
Arthur Freed at MGM originally considered this musical re-make as a vehicle for re-uniting Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney but, by the time it came to pre-production, they were establishing themselves in more "adult" roles and too mature to appear in a Student College setting.
Actor who got the part: June Allyson

The Graduate
Was considered by Mike Nichols for the role of "Mrs. Robinson."
Actor who got the part: Anne Bancroft

Gypsy
Was considered by producers for the role of Mama Rose in the movie version of "Gypsy" but her history of being unreliable ultimately lost her role.
Actor who got the part: Rosalind Russell

Harlow
Judy Garland was cast as Mama Jean Bello in this Alex Segal biopic, but left the production.
Actor who got the part: Ginger Rogers

The Helen Morgan Story
Wikipedia says Garland was considered for this biopic of the grand dame of torch singer.
Actor who got the part: Ann Blyth

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
Director Stanley Kramer wanted Garland to play the shrewish wife of Ernie Kovacs. Kovacs was tragically killed in a car crash and, when he was replaced by another star, the idea of casting Garland made less sense.
Actor who got the part: Ethel Merman

Just for You
Star Bing Crosby pulled for Garland to be his co-star in this dramatic musical, but studio bosses balked, considering Garland too much of a risk. Instead, in the role of a musical comedy star, they cast an actress who sometimes "sang."
Actor who got the part: Jane Wyman

Kiss Me Kate
After her triumph at the London Palladium in 1951, MGM considered Judy for the film version of the smash Broadway musical Kiss Me Kate.
Actor who got the part: Kathryn Grayson

Mame
The great star, who gave what people called a "legendary" and "brilliant" audition to replace Angela Lansbury in the Broadway musical, held out hope that she might be cast in the film version.
Actor who got the part: Lucille Ball

Meet Me in New York
MGM proposed a sequel to Meet Me In St Louis, but it was never made.
Actor who got the part: Film Not Made

Paint Your Wagon
In 1952 Louis B Mayer wanted Judy for a film version of the Broadway musical. The musical would not be filmed until 1969, and without Judy.
Actor who got the part: Jean Seberg

The Razor's Edge
Twentieth Century Fox's Darryl F. Zanuck considered Judy Garland for the pivotal supporting role of Sophie. According to some sources, he made overtures to MGM, which refused to loan her.
Actor who got the part: Anne Baxter

Romance on The High Seas
Warner Bros hoped to borrow Judy Garland from MGM to play Georgia Garrett but an agreement could not be reached.
Actor who got the part: Doris Day

Royal Wedding
Called back from MGM leave to replace the pregnant June Allyson, but subsequently fired for lateness and absences. Like the Barkleys of Broadway, this was another unsuccessful attempt to re-team Garland with Fred Astaire.
Actor who got the part: Jane Powell

Saratoga Trunk
In 1955 a musical version of the Edna Ferber novel was proposed to star Judy Garland as the half-Creole Clio Dulaine.
Actor who got the part: Film Not Made

Show Boat
Judy Garland was the everyone's original choice for the role of Julie LaVerne, but Judy's health problems resulted in the termination of her Studio Contract.
Actor who got the part: Ava Gardner

Singin' in the Rain
Considered for the role of Kathy Selden but believed to be "too old" for Gene Kelly.
Actor who got the part: Debbie Reynolds

South Pacific
According to Scott Schechter's book "the Day-By-Day Chronicle of a Legend", Judy Garland was offered this film in 1955.
Actor who got the part: Mitzi Gaynor

Strictly Dishonorable
In 1950, MGM considered Judy Garland for the part of Isabelle Perry, the lovesick fan of an opera star in this romance with songs.
Actor who got the part: Janet Leigh

Take Me Out to The Ball Game
Judy was suggested for the part of K. C. Higgins but was replaced by Esther Williams.
Actor who got the part: Esther Williams

The Three Faces of Eve
Director Nunnally Johnson wanted the great Garland for the true-life story of a woman with multiple personalities. The studio feared Garland's personal problems would impact upon her reliability.
Actor who got the part: Joanne Woodward

Valley of the Dolls
Garland was fired from the Ethel Merman-liike role of "Helen Lawson" in the film version of Jacqueline Susann's bestselling novel.
Actor who got the part: Susan Hayward

Yolanda and The Thief
Judy wanted to re-team with her husband director Vincente Minnelli and play Yolanda Aquaviva but producer Arthur Freed saw the part more for a dancer and cast Lucille Bremer.
Actor who got the part: Lucille Bremer






Did you know that Judy Garland was not the only choice for these movies? (click to learn more)
» The Harvey Girls
» In The Good Old Summertime
» The Pirate
» Presenting Lily Mars
» Summer Stock
» The Wizard of Oz
» Ziegfeld Follies

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